Minnesota edges Scorpions in stoppage time

The Scorpions' Tomasz Zahorski (left) and Minnesota's Conner Tobin fight control of the ball Saturday.

The Scorpions' Tomasz Zahorski (left) and Minnesota's Conner Tobin fight control of the ball Saturday.

Photo: Robin Jerstad / For The Express-News

Photo: Robin Jerstad / For The Express-News

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The Scorpions' Tomasz Zahorski (left) and Minnesota's Conner Tobin fight control of the ball Saturday.

The Scorpions' Tomasz Zahorski (left) and Minnesota's Conner Tobin fight control of the ball Saturday.

Photo: Robin Jerstad / For The Express-News

Minnesota edges Scorpions in stoppage time

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It started well enough, with a gorgeous piece of skill from Honduran midfielder Walter Ramirez that netted the match's opening goal.

In the end, however, the Alen Marcina era started the same way the Tim Hankinson era ended — a brutal loss decided in stoppage time, with Minnesota United FC enduring for a 3-2 victory Saturday at Toyota Field.

The Scorpions, playing a man down after Jeff Jennings' ejection, had fought back to equalize late in the second half on a long-range strike from Tomasz Zahorski.

But United defender Connor Tobin trundled the winner over the line in the dying seconds to saddle the hosts with their fifth straight loss, and the first under their new manager.

“I'm proud of the guys,” said Marcina, who took over on an interim basis after Hankinson was sacked Tuesday. “They fought.”

Almost literally.

Former Scorpion Pablo Campos — who scored a pair of goals in his return to San Antonio — and Kevin Harmse confronted each other at the final whistle, nearly sparking a full-on brawl when the latter ended up sprawled face-down on the turf while the former backpedaled away from a swarm of furious opponents.

The two sides had finally begun dispersing to the locker rooms when Harmse allegedly was involved in some sort of confrontation underneath the stands with United's trainer. The teams said they weren't sure exactly what happened.

But this much was evident — it was an ugly finish to a bitterly-contested match between two teams that clearly do not like one another after United eliminated the Scorpions from last year's playoffs.

Campos played a key role in that defeat, earning a red card early in the second leg that ultimately doomed San Antonio. He headed north during the offseason and took immense delight in the brace he inflicted on his old team.

It was classic Campos opportunism, with both goals resulting from defensive mistakes. He also spent much of the night trading words and more with his former teammates.

“To his credit, he put away the two golden chances we gave him,” said Scorpions midfielder Pat Phelan. “But I have no respect for him. I don't think many of our players do.”